Its Foster Care Awareness Week – and Caring Families Aotearoa is celebrating big to thank caregiver champions that step up and raise our tamariki.

Foster Care Awareness week is a nationwide celebration this week, running to Sunday, March 12.

'This week is all about celebrating our caregivers and the wonderful job they do in caregiving for some of Aotearoa's most vulnerable children,” says Caring Families Aotearoa regional coordinator Christine Frost.

This Saturday, March 11, Caring Families Aotearoa will host Tauranga's Celebration Extravaganza with family fun activities, goodie bags, and food and drinks on offer for caregivers and their children.

Christine thinks the Celebration Extravaganza will be an awesome day out for caregivers and tamariki. 'It's not very often that you get thanks for raising these children… I guess it's really just about providing a really fun day and I hope that the caregivers get time to relax, enjoy the day and watch their children have fun.”

Being a caregiver for five years to children aged seven, five and 12, Christine says: 'It's very challenging at times but it's all worth it in the end when you see how the children flourish”.

Discovering Caring Families Aotearoa three years ago, Christine says the organisation has been incredible with her caregiving journey.

'The support, advocacy and training that Caring Families Aotearoa provides is just so important to our role of providing a safe, loving and healing home for our tamariki.”

Tauranga Model Marine & Engineering Club is helping celebrations by running the Memorial Park's miniature railway for families to enjoy. The Celebration Extravaganza is at Memorial Park from 10am-1pm on Saturday, March 11.

For caregivers and tamariki looking to have some fun this weekend, register at: www.caringfamilies.org.nz/fcaw-rsvp-2023/